I don’t know about you, but I really need to take a vacation every year. Actually I would like to take more than a year. Previously, I never failed to go on vacation at least once a year, if not more than once. It really is something you need to do with your family to relax and de-stress. However, it seems that affordable family vacations are hard to find these days.

With all the daily expenses of monthly bills, grocery bills, and unexpected expenses, plus the fact that many people are out of work or working less, many people forgo their annual family vacations to save money.

But it does not have to be like that. It’s true that times are tough, but it will only make things more stressful for you and your family if you don’t take some time to get away and have a little fun.

So here is a great idea for an affordable family vacation. You can have a vacation in your own backyard. Sometimes people refer to these as “holidays at home” because you stay at home. But this can be much more fun than it seems because you can play the tourist in your city. How many times have you heard people in Orlando, Florida say something like, “I’ve lived here my whole life and I’ve never been to Disney World.” That’s crazy!

So stop by a local hotel, go to the lobby and pick up the various brochures and coupons they have for their guests. You can also pick them up at local restaurants, usually at the front door. Look for special offers and coupons for all the local tourist spots.

Also, don’t forget about the special offers that different attractions may have for residents of your state. You can often receive deep discounts. And if you have Triple A, do not forget to ask if there is any discount for you.

You’ll be surprised how much fun you can have in your own backyard. It’s really fun!